Over the past few years Black Friday has become a household shopping event in Ireland, even starting to rival St Stephen's Day in the spending stakes as retailers clamour to cash in ahead of Christmas.

In previous years, shoppers have snapped up cut-price goods such as games consoles, tech gadgets and electronic appliances over the 24-hour bonanza, but now we're seeing equally as impressive discounts across fashion, beauty and even travel.

In 2014, when it all kicked off, the event was record breaking on the high street (with scenes of actual chaos, everywhere), however in the past three years, it's been quite the opposite, with all deals online - and yes, websites have been known to crash straight after midnight.

Some even have queues, just to get in online.

In short, finding the best deals for 2017 might mean pulling all-nighter on November 23. Below we've got some handy tips on how to prepare for the big spree - including how to tell if a deal is actually a 'deal', consumer rights, shopping tips and who might be taking part this time around.

When is Black Friday 2018?

This year, Black Friday falls on Friday, November 23 2018.

What to expect and how to find the best deals?

(Image: Getty)

If 2017 is anything to go by, Black Friday is more than just an opportunity to pick up cheap tech.

Last year everyone from major fashion brands and luxury department stores to airlines and tour operators got in on the action, offering huge discounts across a range of product categories.

This year we predict more of the same.

It's likely some retailers will opt to launch deals earlier to get ahead of rivals - and we'll be the first to let you know when that happens.

Tech is one of the top focuses of Black Friday, and 2018 is no different, with many retailers such as Harvey Norman and Argos expected to launch big Black Friday discounts on everything from Apple Macbooks to cheap tablets and laptops.

You'll find most retailers will be keeping tight lipped about what's to come - it's become almost a tradition - however as we find out, you'll be the first to know.

Going by last year's Black Friday, Irish retailers such as Argos, Debenhams, Harvey Norman, Aer Lingus, Boots, Peter Mark and Smyths Toys will be among those announcing a few sweet deals to entice shoppers into parting with their hard earned cash.

Why is it called Black Friday?

Nobody's entirely sure, but most suggestions surround how businesses and retailers detail their finances. Many shops see the biggest profits of the year on Black Friday.

Many businesses will detail their gains in black ink (and losses in red ink), hence the name.

How did it go down in previous years?

(Image: Bloomberg via Getty Images)

(Image: Bloomberg via Getty Images)

In 2014 Black Friday hit the high street with popular retailers like Asda leading the way with massive price cuts on electronic goods - resulting in fights and chaos in stores across the country.

In contrast, 2015 saw a move away from bagging a bargain in store, with more consumers opting to shop online from the comfort of their sofas. In the UK, major player Asda famously pulled out of the huge shopping bonanza .

2016 was no different - online ruled and the high street remained quiet in the wee hours of November 25. Many retailers reported record numbers of online sales and hosted deals both in the lead up and aftermath of the day itself.

Currys PC World reported its highest ever number of orders, up 40% on 2015, with over half a million visitors to the website pre-6am alone, while eBay estimated 20.7 million UK visits over the long Black Friday weekend, kick-starting the Christmas shopping rush.

Your return rights may be stronger if you shop online - you are legally entitled to a full refund for a non-faulty, online purchase if you change your mind within 14 days of delivery, but this may not be the case if you bought it in store.

But, be aware of online scams - it’s always best to double-check the domain name of the website you’re buying from and beware of unusual payment methods, like bank transfers.

Your return rights for non-faulty products may vary from store to store - whilst some stores may choose to offer a full refund for a product you no longer want, others may disappoint consumers by offering a credit note, an exchange or nothing.

If you’re shopping on the high street, make sure you check the individual return policy at the till.

Not all products will be cheapest on Black Friday itself - only 8% of the Black Friday deals Which? checked last year were actually the lowest prices.